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Bible Pathways 2/1/2004

2016Feb 01

COMMENTS

February 1

Read Leviticus 1 -- 3

In Today's Reading:

Burned offering; meat (meal, grain) offering; peace offering

The first three offerings mentioned in the first three chapters of Leviticus are called sweet savor offerings, which means they were voluntary and pleasing to God. Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, If any man of you bring an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burned offering (sacrifice) of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the Tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burned offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him (Leviticus 1:2-4,9).

The first offering mentioned is called the burned offering (sacrifice). It symbolized the offerer giving his own life in full submission to God and without a selfish motive. The offering was to be a bull, lamb, goat, turtledoves, or pigeons, according to the financial ability of the offerer (1:3,10,14). If the offerer owned a herd, then he offered a bull. If, however, the offerer possessed only flocks, then his offering would be a lamb or a goat; for either of these men to offer pigeons would have been offensive to God. But, if the offerer were so poor that he did not own a herd or a flock, then an acceptable offering could be the less-expensive turtledoves or young pigeons. This was the offering made by Joseph and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and points out how very poor they were before the wise men arrived with their expensive gifts (Luke 2:22-24; Matthew 2:11; see Leviticus 12:2-8).

The procedure for the burned offering was for the offerer to lay his hands heavily upon the head of the animal, symbolizing the transfer of sin from the guilty to the sinless, atoning for his sin. Next, the offerer had to kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar (1:5). The blood offered to God indicated that a life had been given as a substitute for the one who had sinned. This was a foreshadowing of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity (lawlessness), and purify to Himself a peculiar (special) people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:13-14).

NOTE: Bible Pathway covers the Old Testament with devotional and commentary insights over a nine-month period, January through September. Each day during these months, an optional reading of one chapter a day from the New Testament will also be listed. The October, November, and December issues will provide a daily commentary on the New Testament readings. Thus, the reader goes through the New Testament twice each year using the Bible Pathway plan.